Views

Antiochus of Athens

From AstrologyNotes

AstrologyNotes Astrological Knowledge Base

Astrology	History	Glossary
Branches	Charts	Tools
Traditions	Methods	Resources

Antiochus of Athens was an influential Hellenistic astrologer from the 1st or 2nd century A.D., (possibly a younger contemporary of Ptolemy and Vettius Valens) who wrote a Thesaurus and posssibly an introduction to astrology. His actual writings have not survived, but he is extensively quoted or paraphrased by later writers, particularly the Neoplatonist Porphyry, who may have encountered Antiochus' work when he studied at Plato's Academy in Athens. There is also a later Byzantine epitome, or summary, of both works.

Antiochus' work was likely very respected by later astrologers and philosophers, since not only does the Thesaurus appear to be the basis of Porphyry's third-century Introduction to Ptolemy, but Antiochus is also extensively quoted by Hephaistio of Thebes (380 A.D.) and also by Rhetorius of Egypt (in the sixth or seventh century A.D.), as well as being referenced by Firmicus Maternus (~336 A.D.) and by Palchus.

Antiochus is particularly useful because of his definitions of terminology. For this reason, Porphyry relies heavily on him for an understanding of Ptolemy's terms. Antiochus has one of the earliest references to astrological reception, and provides a good description of the subtleties of Hellenistic aspects between zoidia (or signs.)

Antiochus had considerable influence on post-Classical astrologers, particularly the Arabs, who also cite him liberally.